The Shanghai Tower (上海中心大厦) is a colossal skyscraper and iconic landmark in Shanghai, China. It stands as the tallest building in China and the third tallest globally. Construction began on November 29, 2008, and the main structure was completed on March 12, 2016.
Primarily used for offices, hotels, retail spaces, and observation decks, the Shanghai Tower features 127 above-ground floors, reaching a height of 632 meters, and includes a five-story basement. The podium comprises seven floors, with five above ground and two below, measuring 38 meters in height. The total construction area is approximately 578,000 square meters, with about 410,000 square meters above ground and 168,000 square meters below ground, all on a land area of 30,368 square meters.
The Shanghai Tower has achieved LEED-CS Platinum certification for its green building standards and has received numerous prestigious awards. These include the MIPIM People’s Choice Award, the American Architecture Prize (AAP) Annual Design Award, the 15th China Civil Engineering Zhan Tianyou Award, and the 2019 BOMA Global Innovation Award. These accolades underscore its architectural excellence and innovative design, making it not only a marvel of engineering but also a model of sustainability and modern design.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Shanghai Tower
- Vlog about Shanghai Tower
- FQ&A about Shanghai Tower
- Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
- Attractions Near Shanghai Tower
Basic Information
| Website | https://www.shanghaitower.com/ |
| Estimated length of tour | 1-3 hours |
| Ticket price | Adult: 180 RMB Children (1 – 1.4 meters): 90 RMB Children under 1 meter or 3 years old: Free Senior citizens above 60 years old: 90 RMB |
| Opening hours | 08.30-22.00; Last entry: 21.30 |
Location and Transportation
Shanghai Tower is located in Lujiazui Financial Center, Pudong District. Around it are Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Oriental Pearl Tower, and the Bund. It is the most prosperous area in Shanghai and has perfect infrastructure.
Bus: Take No. 583 or 939, get off at Huayuan Shiqiaolu Dongtailu Stop, and the tower is right to your south.
Subway: Take subway line 2 or 14, get off at Lujiazui Station, and walk southeast about 200 meters
Self-drive: You can park your car on B3, which is open to the public. The fare is 15 RMB per hour.
Highlights of Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower Observatory
The Shanghai Tower Observatory, also known as “Top of Shanghai,” is located on the 118th and 119th floors of the Shanghai Tower, covering an area of over 1,000 square meters. The observatory features a triangular ring layout with expansive floor-to-ceiling transparent glass walls. The two floors offer viewing platforms at heights of 546 meters and 552 meters, respectively, providing a 360-degree panoramic view of Shanghai’s cityscape. Visitors can experience the sensation of standing atop the highest point in Shanghai. Additionally, on the 125th floor, there is a display area dedicated to the tower’s 1,000-ton damper, which plays a crucial role in stabilizing the building. The observatory is also equipped with the world’s fastest elevator, which travels at a speed of 18 meters per second.
Sky Lobbies
Shanghai Tower features several high-ceiling, transparent sky lobbies located on the elevator transfer floors of the main building, specifically on the 22nd, 37th, 52nd, and 68th floors. Each sky lobby is designed with three sky gardens due to the double curtain wall design.
- 22nd Floor Sky Lobby: This lobby includes amenities such as a fitness center, a dental clinic, and an executive dining area. It houses the Golden Collar Station, providing a public space for activities and interactions among white-collar workers in the Lujiazui area.
- 37th Floor Sky Lobby: This lobby features the Shanghai Guanfu Museum and the world’s highest indoor classical Chinese garden, the Ban Mu Yuan.
- 52nd and 68th Floor Sky Lobbies: These lobbies introduce high-end establishments, including bookstores and Michelin-starred dining options, enriching the overall experience for guests with a blend of leisure and luxury.
Olive Square
Designed by Dutch architect Alfonso Wolbert and located on the 37th floor, Olive Square is a Western-style garden showcasing stone columns, totems, and symbols representing eight ancient lost civilizations – Mycenaean, Babylonian, Etruscan, Ancient Egyptian, Pompeian, Viking, Aztec, and Mayan. This garden serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.
Shanghai Guanfu Museum
Located on the 37th floor, this museum features four permanent exhibition halls – Ceramics, East-West, Gold, and Sculpture – and one temporary exhibition hall. The museum emphasizes the connection between people and history, focusing on the intimacy and accessibility of traditional Chinese culture.
Traditional Chinese Garden
On the 37th floor of Shanghai Tower is a traditional Chinese Garden with rockeries, streams, pavilions, grass, and flowers. It is named Banmu Yuan, which can be translated into Half-Mu Garden (Mu is a Chinese measurement similar to the acre) because it occupies an area of 384 square meters, exactly half mu. It will remind you of the huge aircraft in science fiction movies with a complete ecosystem. Unfortunately, it only opens to the public occasionally. But you can take your chance.
Duoyun Bookstore
Situated on the 52nd floor, this bookstore provides visitors with a space to read and relax while enjoying stunning views of the Huangpu River. The bookstore sells books and beverages, offering a unique cultural experience that reflects the spirit of Shanghai.
Baoku Craftsmanship Museum
Located on the 38th floor, this museum brings together nearly 100 Chinese craft masters and national intangible cultural heritage inheritors. It showcases traditional Chinese handcrafts with a modern aesthetic, promoting the preservation and appreciation of these skills. The museum also serves as a hub for art storage, circulation, public education, and artist incubation.
J Hotel Shanghai Tower
Occupying the 86th to 98th floors of Shanghai Tower, J Hotel Shanghai Tower offers an unparalleled luxury experience. With 165 rooms, including 34 suites, ranging from 61 to 380 square meters, the hotel provides unique and breathtaking views of the city. Each room blends the best of ancient and modern aesthetics from around the world, creating a rich tapestry of artistic beauty. The hotel is designed to offer a modern Oriental travel experience, excelling in areas such as design, living, gastronomy, technology, and service.
Top of Shanghai Exhibition Hall
Located on the first basement level of the tower, the Top of Shanghai Exhibition Hall explores the tower’s architectural and engineering marvels through seven themed zones: “Shanghai’s Shanghai Tower,” “Growing Skyline,” “Skyscraper Dream,” “Skyscraper City,” “World’s Tallest Buildings,” “Shanghai Tower DNA,” and “Vertical City.” The exhibition employs state-of-the-art multimedia technology, including sound, light, and interactive displays, to provide an immersive understanding of the design and construction of Shanghai Tower.
World’s Highest Cultural and Artistic Center
On the 126th floor, this center offers an elevated cultural experience, featuring world-class four-dimensional musical performances and multimedia light and sound shows. At its core is the “Shanghai Eye” sculpture, inspired by the mythical “Eye of the Candle Dragon” from the ancient Chinese text “Shan Hai Jing.” Weighing 7 tons, this central piece symbolizes insight and wisdom.
Top of Shanghai Retail Store
The Top of Shanghai retail stores, located on the second basement level and the 118th floor observation area, offer over 1,000 products that embody the “Shanghai Tower” brand. The merchandise includes stationery, travel items, apparel, home goods, food, and toys, all with a distinct Shanghai Tower imprint.
Vlog about Shanghai Tower
FQ&A about Shanghai Tower
How many floors does Shanghai Tower have?
Shanghai Tower is divided into 10 zones if you count the underground section. The five floors in zone 1 house shopping malls, conference halls, garden restaurants, and cafes. Zones 2-6 are for companies. And at zone 7 and 8 are located J Hotel, which boasts 165 rooms, including 34 suites. The staterooms and suites are scattered from floors 86 to 98 and vary from 61 square meters to 380 square meters. Zone 9 consists of 3 sections. The first one, floor 118, is the observation deck. The second one, floor 119, is a cafe. And the top one, floors 120-125, houses the largest damper in the world to stabilize the building.
When was the Shanghai Tower built?
As early as 1993, the Shanghai government had planned to construct three mega buildings in Lujiazui as the icon of modern Shanghai and the financial center. While Jinmao Tower and the World Financial Center had been approved, the third building was still a primitive idea.
In 2005, Lujiazui Ltd Company, the company that ran the area, issued invitations to six well-known architecture firms and asked them to offer bids. This process ended in September of the same year. In September 2006, the Shanghai government started organizing open tendering. On November 21st, 2007, Lujiazui Ltd Company, Shanghai Municipal Investment and Development Company, and Shanghai Construction Company founded a new firm to deal with the construction and started to review the various designs in December.
On November 29th, 2008, the foundation work began. Workers started to install the glass wall on August 2nd and dug the underground passage on December 31st. On August 3rd, 2013, the last steel girder was installed, and the roof was sealed, which means the main structure of Shanghai Tower was completed. From 2014 to 2015, the project focused on decorations, glasses, electricity, water and gas pipes, and lights.
Finally, on March 12, 2016, all the construction was completed, and the building started a trial operation. On April 26th, 2017, the observation deck was open to the public.
Who designed Shanghai Tower?
The Shanghai Tower was designed by the American architectural firm Gensler, with lead designer Jun Xia serving as the project’s design director. He oversaw the entire design process from concept to completion, working closely with the client, engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure the project’s success.
Xia was responsible for the tower’s unique twisting form, which he designed to optimize the building’s structural performance and environmental sustainability. The twisting shape of the tower was intended to reduce wind loads, which can be particularly intense at such heights, and to improve the building’s energy efficiency by allowing for more natural light to enter the interior spaces.
Shanghai Tower vs Burj Khalifa
Height: The most obvious difference between the two buildings is their height. The Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest building in the world, standing at 828 meters (2,716 feet), while the Shanghai Tower is the second-tallest, with a height of 632 meters (2,073 feet). While both buildings are incredibly tall and impressive, the Burj Khalifa’s additional height gives it a greater visual impact and makes it a true icon of modern architecture.
Design: Both buildings feature unique and innovative designs that incorporate a range of advanced technologies and engineering techniques. The Burj Khalifa has a distinctive tapered shape that was inspired by the geometry of a desert flower, and it features a series of setbacks that help to reduce wind loads and improve its structural stability. The Shanghai Tower, on the other hand, has a cylindrical shape that is designed to reduce wind loads and improve stability. It also features a double-skin facade that helps to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Location: The two buildings are located in very different parts of the world, and their locations provide different perspectives and views of the surrounding areas. The Burj Khalifa is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which is known for its hot climate and desert landscapes. The tower is surrounded by a mix of commercial and residential buildings, as well as parks and other public spaces. The Shanghai Tower, on the other hand, is located in Shanghai, China, which is a bustling metropolis with a mix of modern and traditional architecture. The tower is located in the heart of the city’s financial district, and it offers stunning views of the city skyline and the surrounding areas.
Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
Consider Booking Lounge 552 Restaurant Package: If you’ve purchased the Lounge 552 restaurant package, it’s advisable to head straight to the restaurant on the 119th floor to get your queue number immediately. The dining service operates on a first-come, first-served basis. This option also save you the trouble of waiting in the line for the observation deck.
Be Prepared for Long Queues on Holidays: During holidays, queues can be exceptionally long. You might think you’re about to reach the top, but then you enter another room filled with people waiting, which can be disheartening.
Experience the Dampers and Light Show: Shanghai Tower features a spectacular damper system designed to reduce the building’s swaying motion. Paired with a dazzling light show, it offers an unforgettable experience. The light show is an additional fee and can be purchased along with the admission ticket.
I suggest not going recently; you’ll end up spending money and waiting in line for 180 minutes to pay 180 yuan.
My two friends and I ascended to the 118th floor of the Shanghai Tower, which stands at 546 meters tall. Up there, we experienced a different perspective of Shanghai. Filled with excitement and a hint of nervousness, we made our way into the Sunken Plaza. With the sunset approaching, we hurriedly browsed through the exhibition hall located on B1. The high-speed elevator of the Shanghai Tower can take visitors to the 546-meter-high observation deck in just 55 seconds. To be… Read more »
We waited in line for an hour and a half to reach the 118th floor, and it was packed with people. I estimate it will also take about an hour to queue for the subway down. So many people crammed into a height of over 600 meters!
In summer, if it rains continuously throughout the day, it may not be worth climbing to the top. The visibility will be very low, and you won’t be able to see anything.
I have to say the Shanghai Tower is quite worth recommending. I went to the 119th floor with a friend. From the beginning of being dismissive, to being stunned by the beautiful scenery in front of me after getting out of the elevator.
If you plan to visit, bring a camera or have your phone ready with the professional mode settings. Remember to bring a lens hood or other professional tools to prevent glass reflection, which I am not familiar with. Of course, you can also take some time to edit the photos later. However, I think it looks better to take photos during the day than the night according to what I see online.
It’s a must to visit on a sunny day. When it’s overcast, all you see is a vast white fog, unable to see anything.
From 632 meters high up in the tower, overlooking the entire Huangpu River, the experience is truly unique. The night view is incredibly beautiful. Regarding the queues, for this kind of scenic spot, I think it’s normal to have to wait. When I went during the Dragon Boat Festival, the wait was still acceptable, around ten minutes. The elevator was very fast, with waves of people going up and down fairly quickly. When riding the elevator, it’s common to experience… Read more »
First of all, there are really a lot of people! It’s to the point of being overcrowded! It took nearly two hours from queuing to entering the Shanghai Tower, and this doesn’t even include the time spent queuing for the elevator inside the building. When you reach the 119th floor, you will see lots of people. Many tourists sit in front of the glass windows to enjoy the view, but because of that, you can hardly see or take photos… Read more »
How do you get tickets for here when you aren’t based in China or you don’t speak Chinese? None of the offical apps are in English to enable them to be purchased.
The easiest way to get a ticket for the Shanghai Tower is to buy it on site. There is a ticket office at the entrance. Basically, if you do not pay a visit during peak times like national holidays. There are always some tickets left